The Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Soipan Tuya, today officially launched a five-day training program that will focus on combating terrorism financing. The event organized by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) is being held in Nairobi.
This landmark initiative brings together participants from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), aiming to coordinate, unify, and strengthen counter-terrorism efforts. The training also seeks to enhance the skills and expertise of personnel involved in countering terrorism financing across IMCTC member countries.
In her keynote address, Hon. Soipan emphasized the significance of the program, stating that it goes beyond mere capacity building. She also praised the multi-agency nature of the training, highlighting its importance in fostering a collaborative approach to countering terrorism financing.
“The Course is more than a capacity building programme, it is a strategic investment in the skills, network and institutional resilience needed to detect, disrupt and dismantle illicit financial flows. The multi-agency nature of this training is particularly commendable. It reflects an understanding that the fight against terrorism financing must be integrated, cross-sectoral and coordinated across both national and international levels, “added Hon Soipan.
Hon. Soipan further reiterated Kenya’s commitment to robust international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. She similarly underscored the value of the partnership with IMCTC, noting its alignment with Kenya’s national strategy on counter-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering.
“Kenya recognizes that effectively countering terrorism financing requires robust international cooperation, shared intelligence, harmonized legal frameworks and continuous capacity development. It is in this context that we value our partnership with the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition,” concluded Defence CS.
IMCTC Secretary General, Major General Mohammed Saeed Al-Moghedi, stressed the critical role of financial flows in sustaining terrorist activities. He also noted that the initiative is part of a broader effort within IMCTC to strengthen member states’ capacities through strategic programs.
“Financing is the lifeline of terrorist organizations, and confronting it requires stronger international cooperation and the development of mechanisms to monitor, trace, and analyse suspicious financial flows,” stated Maj Gen Mohammed.
He further added that, the initiative is an extension of the 15 strategic initiatives adopted by the IMCTC across its four domains: ideology, media, military, and countering terrorism financing, and through it, they aim to deliver 20 awareness and technical training programs to support member states in strengthening their counterterrorism capabilities.
The participating MDAs include Kenya Defence Forces, Judiciary, National Intelligence Service, Attorney General Office, Kenya Revenue Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethics, Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigation, among others.
The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) is an intergovernmental alliance established in December 2015 and is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It unites 22 member states from across the world in a shared commitment to protecting peace, security, and stability by combating terrorism and violent extremism in all forms.
The event was also attended by various Ambassadors and High Commissioners from IMCTC member states, the Deputy Chairperson and members of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, General Officers, Directors General and Heads of participating MDAs, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Defence Attachés, and Representatives of various Regional and International Organisations.
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